Liquid applicator for stamps, envelopes and like gummed surfaces



INVENTOR. M 010/2@ @PES H. LUCAS LIQUID APPLICATOR FOR STAMPS, ENVEL AND LIKE GUMMED SURFACES Filed May 29, 1955 Z0 /f /I Oct. 25, 1955 United States Patent LIQUID APPLICATOR FOR STAMPS, ENVELOPES AND LIKE GUMMED SURFACES Henry Lucas, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application May 29, 1953, Serial No. 358,364

4 Claims. (Cl. 118-255) This invention relates to liquid applicators and particularly to a self feeding roller applicator for moistening stamps, envelope flaps and like gummed surfaces.

Liquid applicators of various types have heretofore been proposed. In every instance, however, the applicator has had one or more deiiciencies. In every case one of the major problems has been the feeding and dis- -tribution of the liquid both to the applicator members and in turn to the surface to be treated.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid applicator having a new and novel liquid feeding and distribution system.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining a substantially constant level of liquid to the applicator members.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for locking the liquid applicator rolls against removal from the device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plurality of applicator rolls held for rotation in a substantially constant bath of liquid.

A further object of the invention is to distribute the liquid to the applicator rolls so as to keep each roll constantly lubricated by liquid and ready for use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a top plan View of a liquid applicator according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a partial isometric view of one end of the base of the applicator of this invention showing the feeder well.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a liquid applicator havinga base provided with a quadrangular recessed portion 11. The bottom of the recess 11 is provided with spaced apart, substantially parallel semi-cylindrical wells 12 connected together by feeder troughs 13 which surround each of the wells 12 and are connected hereto. An upstanding hollow cylindrical member 14 is provided at one end of the base and is connected to the feeder troughs 13 by an opening 15 in its sidewall. The outer surface of the member 14 is threaded to receive a threaded neck of a reservoir 16, filled with liquid 17 to be fed to the wells 12. A groove (Figure 3) partly around the threaded outside of member 14 serves to clear the neck of the reservoir 16. A cylindrical roller applicator 18 is placed in each well 12 for rotation therein. A cover plate 19, having openings 20, fitting in the recess 11 over the rolls 18 placed in the wells 12 is in turn placed over the rolls so as to cover the trough 1,3 and hold the rolls 18 against removal. In a preferred form a resilient gasket 21 is placed between the shoulder of the reservoir 16 and the surface of the base 10 to prevent leakage into or out of the reservoir. The pressure of "ice the gasket 21 on the plate 19 locks it in place against removal.

In operation the reservoir 16 is filled with liquid 17 and screwed onto the hollow member 14. The liquid 17 flows through the opening 15 into the trough 13 from which it is distributed to the wells 12 and in turn to the rollers 18. When the liquid level in the troughs 13and wells 12 reaches the top of the opening 15 the flow of liquid automatically is stopped to maintain that level. The rollers 18 rotate in the wells 12 in a bath of liquid and simultaneously are lubricated and feed liquid to the material being treated.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustrated and described it will be understood that it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A liquid applicator comprising a base, a quadrangular recess in said base, a plurality of semi-cylindrical wells in said base connected by liquid feeder troughs in the bottom of the recess, an externally threaded upstanding hollow cylindrical member at one end of said base, the hollow portion thereof connected to the liquid feeder troughs, a liquid reservoir threaded onto the hollow upstanding member and feeding liquid thereto, a plurality of cylindrical members rotatable in the semi cylindrical wells receiving ud therefrom, and a cover plate fitted in the recess in the base and provided with openings having arcuate walls corresponding in position to the rotatable cylindrical members and fitting thereover whereby to hold the said members in position for rotation but against removal said cover plate having an arcuate throat portion surrounding and engaging the reservoir whereby the cover plate is retained in the recess.

2. A liquid applicator comprising a base having a recess therein, a plurality of semi cylindrical wells in said recess connected by liquid feeder troughs, a reservoir means mounted on the base to supply liquid to said feeder trough, means connecting said reservoir and troughs controlling the flow of liquid from the reservoir by the level of liquid in the feeder troughs, a plurality of cylindrical members equal in number to the number of semicylindrical wells and rotatable tnerein and a cover plate fitted in the recess in the base and provided with openings having arcuate walls corresponding in position to the cylindrical members and fitting thereover whereby to hold the said members in position for rotation but against removal and to reduce the evaporator surface to a minimum.

3. A liquid applicator comprising a base having a recess therein, a plurality of semi-cylindrical wells in said recess connected by liquid feeder troughs, reservoir means mounted on the base to supply liquid to said feeder trough, means connecting said reservoir and troughs controlling the flow of liquid from the reservoir by the level of liquid in the feeder troughs, a plurality of cylindrical members equal in number to the number of semicylindrical wells and rotatable therein, a cover plate fitted in the recess in the base and provided with openings having arcuate wells corresponding in position to the cylindrical members and fitting thereover whereby to hold the said members in position for rotation but against removal and means cooperating with the reservoir for locking the cover plate against removal.

4. A liquid applicator comprising a base having a recess therein, a plurality of semi-cylindrical wells in said recess connected by liquid feeder troughs, reservoir means mounted on the base to supply liquid to said feeder troughs, said reservoir means comprising a hollow cylindrical threaded member formed in the base, an inverted container threaded onto said member and gasket means between the base and the container sealing the container and base` .against leakage between the container and the threaded perdon. Qi the member., means C .Qnneeting said. reservoir and troughs controlling the ilow of liquid from the reservoir by the level of the liquid in the feeder troughs, e, plurality ef; eylindrieal; members @Quel in 5 number to the number of semi-cylindrical wells and mtetable therein anda, eever plaie fitted in the reces-s in the Vandl provided with openingsl having arcuate. Wel-1S; corresponding in Position to the cylindrical members and ttngthereover wherebytoV hold the said members in l0 position for rotation but against removal.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITEDv STATES PATENTS French Oct, 3, 1905 Reiff Sept. 10, 1918 Horton Mar. 6, 1934 Bedford Mar. 2, 1937 Landau May 6, 1947 Winkler et al. Feb. 13, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 9, 1891 

